“No, not at all! I’m so delighted you came.”
Her bright, beaming smile was truly vivacious. The Marchioness Stemun seemed even more spirited than I had imagined.
‘She gave me that amusing impression when I saw her portrait before.’
Back when I had nothing to do at home, I briefly collected artworks. Unlike the rigid paintings by conventional artists, her works carried a distinct sensation. The brushwork was exquisitely delicate, and the depictions were strikingly lifelike.
She skillfully employed contrasts of light and shadow, and instead of the refined elegance typically pursued in noble art, she dazzled viewers with radiant colors that were brilliantly vivid.
“The others will arrive slowly. This tea time was originally meant only for a few close friends.”
“Are you sure it’s alright for me to attend?”
This felt more intimate than I had anticipated. Of course, building a rapport with her was my goal in coming, so this was good news—but I remained cautious.
“Of course it’s alright. If not for me, you’d have had to accept an invitation from Duchess Yekert’s tea time, wouldn’t you? Ah, no. Since I don’t get along with that lady, perhaps you’d have accepted her invitation only after attending mine?”
I flinched involuntarily, and she smiled knowingly.
“If you’d gone there from the start, young madam, you’d have been treated rather harshly. Besides, you’re the Orbetian heiress who’s never participated in social circles at all.”
I hadn’t expected her to know about me.
“You knew of me?”
“Of course I did. The talk has been quite lively. Many people are curious about the love story between Duke Ferhaem and his duchess—whether out of pure interest or otherwise.”
I had roughly anticipated this. Wasn’t Yezar the top marriage prospect among noble heiresses? Then suddenly, he marries some mysterious heiress from the Count Orbetian’s reclusive household.
There were certainly people eager to tear into such a scandal.
Yezar would handle things neatly to a certain extent—but even he had his limits.
“As for me, I simply wish to hear a pure love story. Please, have a seat. I especially enjoy innocent romance—just like my own with him.”
Seeing the marchioness blush like a young girl, smiling as if merely imagining such love was delightful, strangely put me at ease. I had come here to build high-class connections, yet I found myself genuinely enjoying our conversation.
Once seated, she handed me a warm cup of tea and gazed at me intently. Unable to withstand her stare, I asked.
“What is it that you’re curious about, my lady?”
“Why, naturally, the passionate details of newlyweds.”
I nearly dropped my teacup. Passionate details? There weren’t any—after all, we hadn’t even consummated the marriage yet.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine from embarrassment. But then, the next words from her lips shocked me into complete stillness.
“I actually thought Duke Ferhaem might be inclined toward men, given how he cut off all contact with every young lady. That rumor circulated among the heiresses quite often.”
“What kind of rumor…?”
“It might be a bit shocking for you, but there was talk that His Majesty the Emperor and the duke are actually involved with each other, and deliberately kept Her Majesty the Empress—whom they both grew up with as childhood friends—between them so the three could spend time together.”
“No! Absolutely not!”
I blurted out loudly without thinking. Because Yezar was just so pitiful. He’d already suffered so much, caught between that couple, enduring emotional turmoil—and now, behind his back, people were calling him a wretched man who loves men, a deviant!
‘Then… could it be that the person Yezar loves, the one Weaslet mentioned, isn’t Bertisha after all…? Oh. No way. Dear heavens.’
I cried out, forgetting my original purpose and thinking only of Yezar’s honor.
“My husband likes women! When I suddenly touch his chest, he runs away blushing—but then he calls me lovely and says embarrassingly sweet things… And in the bedroom, he has a habit of sleepily undressing himself…”
I realized I’d slipped and covered my mouth mid-sentence. The marchioness’s eyes curved with delight, as if she were watching an adorable couple.
“My, if the Duke of Ferhaem does that every night, your bedroom must be quite heated. Who makes the first move, madam? Or is it that austere duke himself?”
She was clearly teasing me now. But I couldn’t evade an answer here. I had to clear Yezar’s name of this slander right now.
I’m sorry, Yezar.
“…The duke does.”
“Goodness.”
Just this once, please become a relentless beast who charges at me every night. I’ll apologize when I get home.
“Hehe. Your relationship is truly passionate. How wonderful.”
“…Yes.”
Whether satisfied with my answer or seeing how red my face had become and deciding to stop teasing, the marchioness shifted to light, everyday topics.
Of course, while nodding along, my conscience prickled sharply with guilt.
‘I’ve turned that pure man into a beast. I really am sorry… what should I even do?’
But I couldn’t let people continue believing a perfectly normal man was involved in such rumors. If I ever found out who started this nonsense, I’d beat them soundly with a wooden sword.
As I chatted casually with the Marchioness Stemun, other ladies soon arrived.
Upon entering, they noticed me and greeted me politely.
“Oh, you must be the Duchess of Ferhaem? It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Katrina Wyden of the Wyden Count’s family.”
“I’m Bettily Pyreoah of the Pyreoah Count’s family.”
I stood and returned their greetings.
“Pleased to meet you as well. I’m Julietta Ferhaem of the Ferhaem Dukedom.”
The Marchioness Stemun, watching us, smiled broadly and welcomed them.
“Welcome, Katrin. Beri.”
These were likely their nicknames. Seeing them use such affectionate names so freely revealed just how close they were. It seemed true that this tea time was indeed for a small circle of close friends.
‘Then again, do these ladies know that the Marchioness Stemun is the mysterious painter known as Cortina?’
But then again, she hadn’t even revealed her identity to Empress Bertisha. So probably, they didn’t know.
I shook off the thought and focused on conversing with them. I couldn’t afford to make a mistake and leave a bad impression.
“We hurried here early hearing the Duchess of Ferhaem was coming, yet we still seem to be late.”
“I was so excited to meet the Duchess of Ferhaem that I couldn’t sleep, so I ended up arriving late. I’m truly sorry, Duchess.”
“Not at all. I’ve only just arrived myself.”
Unlike my nervousness about being criticized for not participating in society, Countess Wyden and Countess Pyreoah were warm and kind.
“You two didn’t already have some fun conversation without us, did you?”
“That would be terribly disappointing.”
“Oh my, that’s entirely the fault of the late-arriving Katrin and Beri, isn’t it, madam?”
Her playful question made me laugh without realizing.
After that, the conversation flowed smoothly.
They kindly included me throughout, discussing hobbies, recent plays they’d been engrossed in—simple topics that made it easy to join in.
‘It’s more enjoyable than I expected.’
I found myself uplifted by the unexpectedly warm atmosphere. But then the conversation unexpectedly shifted toward child-rearing.
“When did you ladies bring in a private tutor for your children? I’ve been wondering if it’s time to start laying the foundation for their education.”
“Now that you mention it, isn’t Katrin’s child four years old?”
“Hehe. No, they’re already six.”
“Children grow up so fast. Already six, huh.”
While they all exchanged admiring remarks, I remained silent, blinking quietly.
But seeing how deeply the ladies cherished and adored their children made me smile contentedly.
“My child is quite disobedient. Such a stubborn one.”
“Oh, I actually found that stage adorable. My nine-year-old seems to prefer friends over me these days.”
That was the Marchioness Stemun speaking. The one who looked youngest among them had a nine-year-old child? It was hard to believe.
‘A child… Well, Yezar and I are in a contract marriage with a two-year term anyway. This doesn’t concern me.’
The moment I thought that, the topic turned to me.
“Come to think of it, Duchess of Ferhaem, when do you plan to have children? Usually, news of a baby comes soon after marriage.”
“That’s right. I’m curious too.”
At that moment, my mind went completely blank. I’d never discussed children with him—how could I possibly answer?
“Duke Ferhaem is so exceptionally handsome—any child resembling him would surely be brilliant.”
“Exactly. And the duchess is so beautiful as well. How lovely their child would be!”
Certainly, a child who looked like him… would cherish life, smile gently, and always say the sweetest things beside me.
“Mom, look at this. A leaf as pretty as your eyes.”
I stopped myself, realizing I’d imagined the child’s words.
‘Did I just… naturally picture a child of Yezar and me?’
The moment I realized it, I felt flustered. But I tried to calm myself and answer composedly.
“As for children… we haven’t decided yet.”
I began fanning my face, which had turned red on its own. The Marchioness Stemun’s eyes sparkled mischievously.
“But you said things are so heated at night? And yet, nothing’s happened?”
“…The duke says he still wants to enjoy our honeymoon.”
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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